BY TERRI GLAZER
Summer in the Delta can be brutal, but these four families have it made in the shade with backyard pools perfectly suited to their needs.
HIDDEN TREASURE
Like a secret garden, this oasis tucked away from the world is a charming and private respite from summer in the Delta.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIMOTHY IVY
Situated behind a historic Tallahatchie County home is a paradise where a pool, pool house, and pergola exist so comfortably alongside natural elements that it’s hard to remember they weren’t placed there by Mother Nature. Although the house was originally built in 1913 by the current homeowner’s grandparents, the pool didn’t come to be until the late 1990s. The family added the pool house a couple of years later. Surrounded by a lush canopy of trees, the pool sits in a large open area. Grass extends right up to the pool coping on three sides. “I didn’t want a lot of concrete or hard surface around the pool,” says the owner. Only on the end closest to the pool house, bluestone pavers form a wide path from the water to the building. Poolside furniture is minimal, adding to the elegant simplicity of the scene. A weathered teak bench flanked by a pair of concrete urns sits on one side, and a trio of traditional teak deck chairs on the other. 
Twin pillars feature the same Arkansas fieldstone found on the fireplaces in the main house.
The homeowner says her husband came up with the vision for the pool house. “It was supposed to look like a big tent. He sketched it out on the back of an envelope,” she recalls. Its covered outdoor terrace is supported by four columns covered in the same Arkansas fieldstone used on the fireplaces in the main house. The terrace’s generous size means there is room for a sofa, a pair of chairs, and a pine table surrounded by comfortable seagrass chairs. A favorite spot for the family is the porch swing on the terrace. A cozy place to relax, the piece reminds them of the annual vacations they took to the Georgia coast. “We saw that swing on Cumberland Island. There’s a wonderful hotel called the Greystone Inn. They had those swings on their porches, so we found out who made them and had them make us one,” the homeowner explains. “It’s nice and big. The cushion is the size of a twin bed mattress.” Along with a main room, the pool house includes a kitchen and a bathroom. “We spend a lot of time out there,” says the homeowner, and it’s no wonder.
Grass and concrete pavers form the harlequin-patterned “floor” under the pergola.
The terrace’s relaxed charm makes it perfect for summer in the Delta. A fieldstone and timber pergola stretches out to form an area border. The charming structure has a whimsical feel. The “floor,” fashioned from concrete pavers laid on the diagonal to create a diamond pattern on the grass, adds just a touch of formality. String lights with Edison bulbs brighten the way. The homeowner has mixed emotions about the wisteria that covers the structure. She says, “It’s really pretty when it blooms, but it’s very invasive.” While some of the vines produce the familiar lavender blooms, a good portion of the plant is covered in white blossoms every spring. “I’m reluctant to be too aggressive about chopping it down because I don’t want to lose the white,” she adds. With a unique character all its own—and as part of a home that’s been treasured by generations—this Delta backyard is a true treasure.
POOL PERFECTION
After years of planning, the Bass family’s patio and pool are just right, with natural stone elements, water features, beautiful landscaping, and outdoor furnishings to enjoy all season long.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUSTIN BRITT
Off to one side in her backyard was a spot that had bothered Bridgette Bass since 2000, when she and her family moved into their Clarksdale home. The area had a small landscape pond with a little waterfall feature, but she could see the potential for more. “I always told my husband it would be a great place for a pool,” she recalls.After years of resisting, her husband, Brent, finally agreed in 2019, and the Basses couldn’t be happier with the finished product. Lance Foster with Madison County Rocks and Pools handled the design and construction. Joby Jackson, owner of Joby’s Landscape in Winona, took care of the landscaping.
A waterfall feature and a series of sprayers add visual interest and also keep the water moving, cooling it a bit on hot summer days.
Foster suggested a medium-sized, kidney-shaped pool to fill the problematic area, but only take up part of the yard. The waterfall accent he designed adds more than an element of beauty. Keeping the water moving helps lower its temperature during the hot Delta summer weather. The pool’s coping—natural-edged sandstone—provides a beautiful contrast to the deep blue of the water. Stained and scored concrete around the deck repeats the warm tones of the stone Foster placed not only on the coping and a nearby wall built to encase the pool equipment. The family feels fortunate that, thanks to the terrain, even though their pool is on the golf course at Clarksdale Country Club, it still feels private. Bridgette explains that the club’s guidelines prohibit privacy fences along the course, but because their home is on a bit of a high point that falls away from the course, the pool area is not easily visible from the fairway.
The fence’s nostalgic look echoes the home’s rustic architecture.
While privacy fences aren’t an option, the organization does require enclosure of the pool areas adjacent to the course. The Basses chose an attractive four-foot iron fence in a hoop-and-arrow pattern to complement the rustic style of their home. Whether the family wants to sit and chat or relax and lounge, the pool deck provides plenty of options. A trio of teak chaise lounges with light neutral cushions offers a perfect spot to soak up the sun, while three separate seating areas easily accommodate the family and their friends. All-weather wicker furniture from the River Oaks Collection by Better Homes and Gardens combines beauty, comfort, and durability. Bridgette placed two sofas and six swivel club chairs around the pool deck in varying configurations. She says, “We really like the swivel chairs. When you’re out by the pool, you can swivel around and look at the golf course or watch people in the water.”
Pops of color come from vibrant textiles. Inspired by a design blog she follows, Bridgette added bright accent pillows in cool blues and greens in the seating areas. She punched up the chaises with geometric print bolsters and striped towels, custom monogrammed by her daughter’s business, KP Embroidery in Clarksdale. Mother Nature adds to the palette each spring, when the row of ‘Hardy Gardenia’ azaleas near the pool fills with white blossoms. Seasonal flowers in several groupings of pots also make a colorful statement. Although it took a while to make the pool Bridgette envisioned a reality, the Basses are so glad they did. “It’s been great! We’ve loved it, and of course, our two little grandsons love it,” she says. This backyard has truly achieved its potential.
BOLD & BEAUTIFUL
New decking, beautiful containers, and comfortable seating dressed in bold stripes with stunning pops of red bring hotel luxury to this Clarksdale home and pool.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUSTIN BRITT
When Rhodes and Rhett Shaffett moved into their home on the golf course at the Clarksdale Country Club, they set about making the former Connell place their own. In addition to updating the house, they gave the existing pool and surroundings a major facelift. The couple was happy with the pool’s kidney shape, so they left it intact and added a water feature with three spouts. They had the gunite redone in a deep blue to produce a sapphire hue when the pool is filled with water, The new tile along the top edge, deep blue with a bit of sparkle, further highlights the look. In place of the original concrete deck and brick coping, the area around the pool now features cut bluestone. Rhodes loves the look of the new material and the fact that it’s easy on the feet of the couple’s three young grandchildren.
Bold colors paired with elegant styling make a big statement in this golf course home’s backyard.
The pool area is the backyard’s focal point, and its new look blends beautifully with the home’s painted brick exterior. The Shaffetts added a dramatic touch by giving the windows a new, saturated color. “I chose [Sherwin Williams] Urbane Bronze, and I added a little something else to it to give it a little more definition,” says Rhodes. Five teak chaise lounges in a row, plus a matching double chaise across the pool, all painted in the same rich tone, continue the theme. It’s the accessories, however, that provide the pop the homeowners were seeking. “We knew we needed some color,” recalls Rhodes. “My husband agreed that because it’s a big yard, we didn’t want it to look lost from the golf course—not plain.
A classic color combination—red, black, and white—brings pizazz to this pool deck.
First came the red umbrellas. After seeing them in place, the couple loved the look, so the bold black and white cushions soon followed. Fun red bolster pillows and matching towels complete the resort feel. Bronze accents come into play again on fleur-de-lis motifs of the large concrete planters. Rhodes selected the pots as a nod to Rhett, who was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The urns, filled with cheerful red flowers, are an eye-catching and personal addition to the overall design.
Traditional bluestone on the pool deck keeps the look light. It also stays cool enough to accommodate bare feet, even in the hottest weather.
The Shaffetts completed the poolside decor with a pair of conversation areas. Outdoor wicker sofas, loveseats, and chairs provide comfortable spots to relax, watch the children swim, or enjoy a beverage. The grouping on the west end includes a fire pit so the family can enjoy the beautiful setting even when there’s a chill in the air.
CHILLING & GRILLING
The Marley home is ready to roll with a family-friendly space that’s perfect for grilling out, pool parties, ping pong, game days, and more.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUSTIN BRITT
The backyard of Madelyn and Thornton Marley’s Clarksdale home is meant for fun. Whether it’s a pool full of their two teenage boys’ friends or a crowd of Rebels fans watching Ole Miss play on television, the place buzzes with activity throughout the summer and into the fall. The Marleys bought the house in 2017, but it had been on Madelyn’s radar long before—it was the longtime home of the family of one of her high school friends. Once it became the Marley residence, the couple began renovating it. The pool and pool house got a major facelift to better suit the needs of a young family with school-age children.
The pool house’s large, covered patio previously held a built-in bar. In its place now stands a brick fireplace, a handsome focal point for the area. A comfortable cast aluminum sofa and swivel chairs provide a cozy spot for watching the television that hangs above the mantel. Gas fireplace logs, along with a wall-mounted patio heater, give enough warmth to carry football fans all the way through the season on the patio. For the warmer weather, a pair of fans hung from the newly vaulted ceiling ensure a steady breeze. The Marleys also added a brick cooking center with a Big Green Egg grill under the patio and reworked the entrance doors to access the pool house’s den, kitchenette, and bathroom. The original red brick on the pool deck and coping now blends seamlessly with the new masonry on the patio. The Marleys stained the existing herringbone-patterned pavers and reworked the mortar to achieve a uniform look.
Madelyn opted to keep the furnishings clean-lined and simple around the pool. A row of four teak and charcoal wicker lounge chairs from Frontgate overlooks the water along one of the long sides of the oval, and a pair of iron benches provide seating on the opposite side. The original diving board installed when the pool was built around 1999 remains at the far curved end. “We thought about taking it out and putting in a water feature instead, but the kids still use it,” says the mom of Leyton, fifteen, and Hunter, thirteen. Situated in the Clarksdale Country Club off the golf course, the yard is surrounded by a privacy fence. The wood structure shields the yard from view, and provides a natural backdrop for the landscaping, ornamental trees, and smaller shrubs. Landscape lighting illuminates the trees and other highlights of the yard, creating a stunning ambiance as the sun goes down.
Outdoor cooking is big in the Marley family. Their appliances include a Big Green Egg by the pool house, as well as a Blackstone griddle and a smoker on a porch off the home’s den.
Although the pool and surrounding area are the stars of the outdoor show, the Marleys’ home also has two charming porches. Just off the den, a covered cooking porch holds the family’s smoker grill and Blackstone griddle. A couple of Summer Classics teak chairs and ottomans with neutral canvas cushions offer a quiet spot for coffee or reading. A grouping of McCarty wind chimes hangs on one side, providing a lovely accent against the painted brick of the home’s exterior. Also recently updated, the porch now features the same stained wood six lite doors and traditional brickwork as the pool house patio. A charming wrap-around porch, accessed from the primary bedroom, gives the couple a convenient spot to relax and unwind.
